This year's finalists are:






ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Wendy Doll has been an assistant principal at Cooper City High School for the past seven years. Her principal says: "She is an effective instructional leader who truly understands the importance of curriculum and the necessity for utilizing data and technology to increase student achievement." Among her accomplishments, Ms. Doll includes assisting the Curriculum Council at an A+ school for the past three years; being an ACCLAIM nominee for three years; and successfully completing the Principal Intern program. The school's business partnership liaison and parent leaders laud Ms. Doll for negotiating programs that are a "win-win" for the school and its stakeholders. Ms. Doll is a graduate of San Diego State University and has Master's Degrees in Education. She is President-Elect of Broward Assistant Principal's Association for 2003/04.




Glenda Hidalgo McMurray has been in the field of education for 11 years, the past three and a half as an Assistant Principal at Sandpiper Elementary School . Her principal says of her: "Glenda is a highly motivated individual whose primary focus is to pursue opportunities that benefit student performance." Ms. McMurray lists among her accomplishments: the doubling of business partnerships at Sandpiper to include diverse student activities locally, nationally and globally; overseeing a $3 million roof construction project; and designing professional development in a vertical team approach to better use data collection and analysis. Ms. McMurray has a degree in Business Administration from Florida International University and a M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University.





Gregory Pluim has been an Assistant Principal at Silver Lakes Elementary for four years and is lauded by his principal for having "had a dramatic impact upon both myself and our faculty's view of how public education can best improve the academic achievement of students. The skill that truly sets Mr. Pluim apart from other Assistant Principals is the way he uses data to make these decisions." Some of Mr. Pluim's proudest accomplishments are: having increased the school's FCAT accountability score by 14%; creating and facilitating a Teacher/Classroom Assessment Rubric to create a stronger faculty focus research based instructional techniques; and developing Family Math Nights with business partner Publix to incorporate algebraic thinking into menu planning and grocery shopping. Mr. Pluim has received his Bachelor's, Master's and Specialist degrees from Florida Atlantic University and is currently an F.A.U. doctoral candidate in Education Leadership.



PRINCIPALS
Kim A. Flynn has been a principal in Broward County for seventeen years - the last eight as principal at Olsen Middle School . In the past five years, the percentage of Olsen students improving their math and reading scores has increased by 50 percent. The development of a master schedule that incorporates pure teaming, suspended curriculum and a daily reading block has contributed to this success. One of Ms. Flynn's strongest qualities is the ability to build relationships with the community. Her students participate in a partnership with the City of Hollywood to maintain a litter free environment at Holland Park, as well as taking part in character building projects with Toys for Tots, St. John's Soup Kitchen and other community service organizations. Kim Flynn graduated from Southern Methodist University and received her Master's degree in Administration and Supervision from Florida Atlantic University.



Kathleen Goldstein has been an educator for 30 years and in that time, she has been the principal of three Broward elementary schools. In March, 2001 she opened Challenger Elementary School . One of her major accomplishments is the development of the "Awesome Parent Program" to increase parent involvement. This program has won state and national awards and was recently adapted by the State of Florida as part of the 2003 Florida Family School Partnership Act. Test scores at Challenger, an "A" school, have risen steadily. Sensitivity training has been conducted for all staff on meeting the needs of Exceptional Education (ESE) students and an inclusion program was initiated for ESE students in grades 3-5. Mrs. Goldstein received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in both Early Childhood and Educational Leadership at Florida Atlantic University.




Dr. Eileen W. Wills has been principal at Wilton Manors Elementary School since 1999. She has initiated several important innovations that are resulting in higher student achievement. Some examples are: the implementation of a professional development model where all staff are simultaneously trained, resulting in a unified curriculum focus and vision; an uninterrupted Reading Block with all grades divided into leveled groups based on assessments; and the creation of a Science Lab, staffed with a certified teacher and a paraprofessional and complete with state of the art equipment for use by all students. Dr. Wills also recognizes the importance of educating students to be sensitive to the experiences of others. "Passport to Peace" was implemented to foster positive attitudes and character traits in order to have a school climate conducive to student learning. Dr. Wills got her Bachelor's degree at Georgia State University and her Master's and Doctorate from Florida Atlantic University.